University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

When I applied for college as a high school senior, I was only concerned about the academic reputation of the colleges that I applied to, which is how I ended up at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. However, after attending Madison for a semester, I am extremely unhappy because I do not fit in. Although academics are important, I understand now that there are many other factors that are needed to achieve success, such as happiness and great friends. I wish that I could have visited more campuses and found a place that I could truely call home, a place where I was excited to live. I also wish that on my tours, I would have asked the guides about the social atmosphere and people who attended the school so that I could have gotten a better idea of how I would fit in on campus. Going to college is a life changing experience. It is not only about attending school, but also exploring the world and yourself. In retrospect, I wish i would have though of college as an experience and found my "true fit" instead of settling for "poor fit", but highly recognized academic institution.

Knowing what I know about college life and the transition required to adjust there are a lot of things I would go back and advise my high school self. First off, college life is full of the stereotypes that are shoved into our minds through the media, teachers, and parents throughout the yeras. However, I would advise myself to branch out and not conform to one stereotype. When confined into one stereotype it is difficult to branch out and experience the full campus life. Second, I would advise myself to get a good start in academic responsiblities. College is full of distractions and its easy to get caught up in them right away. My high school doesn't prepare you for the work load that comes with college, so therefore I would advise myself to stay on top of reading and be self-motivated in studies for all of my classes. Finally, I would advise my high school self to keep an open mind. I grew up as a pretty sheltered child, so I would advise myself once in college to try new things and don't be afraid or hesitant when presented with new opportunities.

As a high school senior, I felt confident about making the transition from high school to college. I had seen my older sister successfuly transition to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I would soon be joining her. I had read books about what to expect freshman year, and had even watched movies just to get a taste of college life. However, until I actually found myself surrounded by complete strangers in my dorm, or spending late nights at the library, or missing my family, did I realize what challenges a new college student faces. Now, after completing my first semester I reflect back and realize that those strangers in my dorm are now my family, and that studying at the library payed off as my transcript reflects a 4.0. The advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior would be to take full advantage of a situation where no one knows you or your past. This is your chance to leave all of the high school drama and stereotypes behind and let others see you for who you are. Also, take pictures. This isn't a time you will want to forget!

I would tell myself that attending a tri-mester college is a lot harder then I imagine and to buckle down; I can't just wait to figure out that small step in calculas which doesn't matter all that much. I should get help as soon as I need it. Also, I should probably just attend the cheaper East Stroudsburg University down the road rather then going to the much more expensive Drexel University. I would probably wonder why, but in the end I would be unable to get private loan to attend the other college and would only have one term of credits transfer out of the three term year. However, I might consider the fact that going there was worth the experience, so I would tell myself to just study hard to make transfering easier; also to make sure I know VERY early what my loan status for the following year is so I don't find out after admissions for all colleges are locked i have no-where to go. Also for one last word of advice I would tell myself to savor every moment, I'll never know when it's going to be over.

Suddenly you find yourself in May of your senior year, about to graduate, say goodbye to friends and family, and leave for college. This will be your first time living away from home, and I know you're excited and nervous. Here are a few things to remember as you start your new life next fall: 1) Sleep. Just because class no longer starts at 8:00 every morning doesn't mean it's okay to stay up until 3:00 every night. If you keep regular waking hours, you'll feel better and get more accomplished. 2) Experience. This is also your first time living in a city. Take advantage of the opportunities there; go to concerts, museums, ethnic restaurants, etc. Get involved in campus clubs and activities. 3) Relax. You have more homework, papers, and readings than before, and they're more challenging. Don't get too overwhelmed. Make a checklist and work your way down it. You'll feel better after finishing one assignment than after worrying about five. 4) Prioritize. Your new friends are great, but that doesn't mean you need to spend every evening with them. Make time for studying and for yourself.

One of the most important pieces of advice I would give to myself as a high school senior would be to simply relax and not get too overwhelmed with the change in environment. Jumping into a new routine was somewhat stressful for me, but the key to being successful is to not letting the little things get to you. Just because you got a C on your first chemistry test doesn?t mean the world is going to end. It is important to learn from your mistakes and base your future decisions off of them. Another thing I would like to go back and tell myself would be to not try to compare myself and my work to others. Every person learns and grows at their own pace and if you get caught up trying to measure up to them, you won?t get anywhere. It is vital to do the best that you can and not base your life off of someone else?s.

Apply for as many scholarships as possible as early as possible. When your parents constantly get on your case about applying for them, it is for your own benefit, and you should take this advice to heart. It doesn't take that much effort, and sacrificing one or two hours of fun here and there to fill out a few applications will not be such a terrible thing. The potential of winning free money for college is something that you should not pass up because the immense amount of money you will have to pay back in student loans after you get your degree is a burden that nobody wants to face. Not only will a scholarship help you in the long run in terms of staying out of debt, but they will also lift a lot of the stress off of you during the school year. Believe me, college is full of stress already. You will be challenged like never before, but you can rise to the challenge. There is nothing to fear. College is just another new experience. Any anxiety beforehand will quickly lift once the time comes. College is a great experience, and you'll love it.

I would tell myself that out of state schools aren't as important as I thought they were, I don't need to go to the most famous/ most expensive school, and even if you live just a couple hours from home there's still plenty of freedom. In fact, there are a lot of benefits to living near your parents. I would also say that college isn't going to be as easy as high school, in spite of being valedictorian. And I would say, "Take your first semester easy, by taking many classes that your AP classes already counted for, since it will help you know your material more thouroughly." I would tell myself to do a major that I find interesting before a major that I thought was more practical. I would tell myself to pick out a club that I intrinsically find interesting rather than a few that I thought looked good on a resume. Most importantly, I would say, "Stop being so lazy, and start forming good habits that you know will make your life better, because in college you have to fend for yourself, and no one's going to do you favors anymore."

If I could meet myself as a high school senior with my current knowledge, I would offer the advice to abandon social networking sites and be a more accountable friend. Thinking back on my life and how much time I have needlessly spent on the internet chatting, updating Facebook, and playing silly games, I am quite embarrassed. I could have spent much more time with friends building real relationships. I think hanging out with friends is more fun then online chatting anyway and helps maintain social interaction skills that are so often set on the back burner in the age of the "txt". I see the onset of cellular phones coincide with the abandonment of friendship accountability. It is too easy to change plans on the fly just because you recieved a text about another event. RSVPing has no use anymore since Facebook has a "maybe" button. This advice boils down to people should be more courteous: Your friends can depend on you, and in turn, you can depend on your friends. I think this advice can improve your life in college and the lives of your friends and is the best life advice I can give to students.

If I could go back and give myself advice I would say many things, but the most important would be to continue to work hard. Many students, including myself tend to ease up and not work as hard during their senior year in high school. However, this can be a very costly mistake to make. It is much more difficult to adjust to college and all the hard work that comes with it, if you don't already have good habits. Students should continue to study hard during their senior year so they are in a good routine once their college classes start. Also, it is helpful to take some AP classes so students can get an idea of what course material and tests are like in college. If you can get into good daily study habits, then the transition to college will be much easier, and you will receive better grades.